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H YPOCH ARMOS YNA . 



GREEN-TAILED LORIES. 



Hypocharmosyna, Salvadori, Cat. of Birds in Brit. Mus. xx. pp. 12 & 72 (1891). 



Type of the genus : H. placens. 



Generic characters.— Tail-feathers twelve ; point of maxilla long but not thin ; tail-feathers gradually 

 tapering to a point, more or less acute; predominant colour underneath, as well as above, green; 

 tail-feathers green, with the tips yellow, light green, or red ; bill almost always more or less red. 

 (Cf. Salvadori, Cat. of Birds in Brit. Mus. I. c.) 



Range. From the Moluccas through the Papuan Islands to New Caledonia, the New Hebrides, and the 

 Fiji Islands. 



The genus Hypocharmosyna has a wide distribution, though it has no place (any more 

 than the genera of Lories which remain to he described) in the fauna of Australia. It 

 ranges from Halrnahera and Amblau, if not also Bouru (its northern and western limits), to 

 the New Hebrides and Eiji (to its extreme east), though absent from the Solomon Islands. 

 It also extends southwards to New Caledonia. The species there found is an exceptional 

 one, which we place in the genus with some hesitation. As, however, an undoubted species 

 of the genus is found in the New Hebrides, it is not wonderful that it should be found in 

 New Caledonia also. We have already found Trichoglossus massena to be an inhabitant 

 of New Caledonia (the only other species of Lory which is so), and it likewise extends to the 

 New Hebrides. 



The Lories of the genus HypocTiarmosyna are small birds, and include the absolutely 

 smallest (#. pygmcea) of the whole family. 



In all the preceding genera the sexes are absolutely or nearly alike in colour ; but in 

 the present genus they are markedly different, as is also the case with the remaining three 

 genera of Loriidce. 



The Green-tailed Lories are less resplendent in colour than are most of the Lories before 

 described, and contain two or three very dull-coloured species. 



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